"Savor this for artists you know and those you should," writes Sing Out! of this 2007 collection, the 20 tracks of which include "The Shipyard Slips (Island Men)," "The Newry Highwayman," "There Were Roses," "The Belfast Mountains," "Eddie Duffy's Monaghan Twig/The Stormy Saturday," and much more.

"Strikes a winning balance between the old and new guard with straight-up traditional fare from the likes of Cathal Hayden ('Splendid Isolation/Mrs. Lawries') and Barry Kerr ('Ships in Full Sail/The Three Sisters'), Celtic-tinged alternative rock from Neil Hannon's Divine Comedy ('Sunrise') and wistful ballads from Bap Kennedy ('Shankill and the Falls') and Briege Murphy ('Verdant Braes of Screen')."—All Music Guide

"From the Different Drums anthem 'Northern Man' to Desi Wilkinson's unique version of 'My Lagan Love,' Sound Neighbors insists that modern-day Northern Ireland has a musical character distinct from that of the Republic. The Low Country Boys remind the listener of the region's barrage of outside influences, and Tommy Sands of how the troubled past and present collide."—Sing Out!

The folk music archives that form the wellspring of these Smithsonian recordings are truly incomparable. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they reflect the heart, soul, and backbone of the American experience as well as indigenous music from around the world. Folkways' impeccable sound and documentation does these artists proud, setting their work off as the treasure it is.